Here at Power & Grace, we have a very close-knit faculty & staff that work together to achieve one common goal: to prepare our students to succeed in life through academics and to teach them the importance of a relationship with the Lord. This post is a chance for you, a prospective parent of a Power & Grace student, to get to know our teachers and the administration. Each of the faculty was asked 4-5 questions about their experience and beliefs when it comes to teaching and children. This is what each of them had to say.

Mrs. Katobwa Stallworth- Principal

When did you discover that education/teaching was your passion? My mother was an English Teacher for over 30 years. I remember as a small child, about 6 or 7 years old, watching her bring papers home to grade and me wanting to help her. As I got older, I did help her sometimes! Teaching was a part of my childhood and I believe educating is ingrained in me.

2. What is the most rewarding thing about being an educator? It is the satisfaction an educator gets by knowing they are a part of the shaping and molding of the future leaders, teachers, doctors, Pastors, and lawyers of the world. It is knowing that you, if you do your job well, can make a huge impact on a young life that can last a lifetime.

3. What do you love most about being a part of Power & Grace? Power & Grace is my vision come to life. I am so blessed to see it come to fruition. We are educating, inspiring life long learning, and training young minds in Christ!

4. What is the one goal you hope to accomplish with each student who comes to learn at Power & Grace? My goal is to teach each child with high expectations of educational excellence. I want our teachers to take each student as far as they can go, academically and I want them to believe that they are capable of greatness because of their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mrs. Mary Ann Lander- Assistant Principal

When did you discover that education/teaching was your passion?

I realized I wanted to be a teacher in the eleventh grade after watching my mentor, Mrs. Marie Cunningham, my English teacher. Previously, I had always thought I would be a nurse, in fact, I received a summer job as a nurse’s aide because I was such an avid Candy Striper.

2. What is the most rewarding thing about being an educator?

The most rewarding thing for me, personally, about being an educator is watching the children, “catch the magic”. The magic is when they learn to read or understand a concept and they know that they know. I never tire of the look they have on their faces!

3. What do you love most about being a part of Power & Grace?

Power and Grace has such a family atmosphere. I love being with the students and the staff. Having been in a public-school setting for my entire career, I love the Christian element. It’s nice to watch the students and staff start their day with Jesus Christ, and me too.

4. You are an administrator now, but you once were a teacher. Which position do you enjoy the most? Why?

I enjoy both, but my true love and passion is teaching. Again, I enjoy the students and attempting to give them the love for learning, whatever that involves.

5. What do you want to let parents know that are thinking about private education for their child?

Private school is a way of giving your child an advantage, by this I mean the class sizes are small enough so that a personal prescription can be designed for your child. While there are good teachers in both public and private schools, private schools don’t have as many hurdles holding them back from really teaching.

Mrs. Asante Zepeda- Pre-Kindergarten 3-Year-Old Teacher

When did you discover that education/teaching was your passion?

I’ve known from an early age that helping people grow is what I love doing. I can remember as a child playing teacher with my younger sisters. I always wanted to grade the papers and teach them new things.

2. What is the most rewarding thing about being an educator?

I have two. The two most rewarding things about being an educator is watching a child’s growth and the love the children show me. Nothing feels better than seeing a child write their first letter or the hugs they give.

3. What do you love most about being a part of Power & Grace?

Power and Grace is family. When I come to work, it doesn’t feel like a job. It feels like I’m coming here to help my family. We are very close knit here. I love it.

4. Why is early childhood education/pre-education so important?

Early childhood education is so important because it sets the foundation for children to succeed.

5. What do you hope to instill in each child who is a part of your classroom, apart from academics?

I hope that students leave my room knowing to always believe in themselves and to know they have what it takes to succeed.

Ms. Kia Banks- Pre-Kindergarten 4-Year-Old Teacher

When did you discover that education/teaching was your passion?

I have been wanting to teach since I was a young girl. I used to play school with my dolls and stuffed animals.

What is the most rewarding thing about being an educator?

Seeing my students grow daily. And at the end of the year seeing all they have learned.

3. What do you love most about being a part of Power & Grace?

I love teaching in a small school setting. It’s just like a family, from the staff, to the students and parents.

4. Why is early childhood education/pre-education so important?

I believe that the foundation is the key to being successful in school, and that begins in Pre- Kindergarten.

5. What do you hope to instill in each child who is a part of your classroom, apart from academics?

I want all my students to know the importance of learning to never forget that if you have a strong foundation you will always go far in life.

Here at Power & Grace Prepatory Academy we believe in doing the right thing for children, first and foremost. To us, setting children up for success academically is one of the best ways that you can do the right thing for them. Children are one of a parents’ greatest investments, as they are a reflection of them. They carry the parents’ name, they will be the future of the parents’ family, and they will carry on the legacy of the parents. Investing in a great education is one of the most important ways that a parent can lay a solid foundation for advancement, achievement, and prosperity into adolescence, adulthood, and beyond for their young ones. We believe that it is vital to not only emphasize traditional learning subjects to our students, but also the importance of a relationship with Christ and the paramountcy of confidence and poise.

Mrs. Katobwa Stallworth, the principal of Power & Grace Prepatory Academy, is convinced that it is the best Christian private school in Clarksville because her and her faculty and staff are driven by three things: cause, purpose, and belief. She believes in not only in the cause of education, but in the cause of creating future leaders. She believes even the youngest children are ready, willing, and able to learn, lead and love the Lord, if only a parent would believe also. She has created an environment where young people are being taught, groomed, and guided in the direction of a lifetime of successful learning, leading, and loving of Christ and others.

Our purpose is to foster future leaders by teaching them with high expectation, and to furthermore give young minds a place to grow spiritually. We think it is very important that every child believes in themselves, has high self confidence and has the poise, the grace, and the manners to match. Here at Power & Grace Prepatory Academy we believe in developing the whole child. By the whole child, we mean not only the mind, but the heart and the spirit also. We want young people to be well rounded human beings who are not only intelligent, powerful, and graceful, but in addition, know how to show and feel love.

The most important thing that drives us is our belief. Our belief in children, our belief in the importance of their success, and our belief that we we are doing matters. We are not in the pursuit of results, numbers, or profits. We are in the pursuit of making a difference. We are in the pursuit of advancing and enlarging the kingdom of God. We want to touch every young person’s life we come in contact with, and make parents extremely proud. We are sure there are many people with children who believe in the things that we believe in. If you are one of those parents, Power & Grace Prepatory Academy is the place for your future leader.

There are some things in life that you cannot put a price on. Raising an amazing human being is one of them. Investing in your child’s education at a place where he or she will learn a rigorous curriculum, that includes science, math, reading, technology, engineering, art, music, Spanish, and the Bible is priceless. Here at our Academy, your child will learn things and make memories that will last him or her a lifetime!